Death Countdown
1237 Words
I lifted my eyes to look at him.
He actually did sit with me.
Wasn’t my luck just great? I had half expected him to avoid me after our past encounters.
I cleared my throat and lowered my phone. I just needed to think of a good conversation starter.
What would I even say?
That I wanted to be his friend? That was the only way to get close to him, though. If I told him the truth, he wouldn’t believe me. Or worse, he’d take it as a threat like last time.
I didn’t want to piss him off again. After seeing what he was capable of at the party…
I swallowed, and my eyes subconsciously dropped to his knuckles. They were wrapped in white bandages from the damage they had suffered, the same damage that I felt.
I didn’t want to find out if he extended that treatment to girls too.
“You’re silent today. Upset that I beat up your little boyfriend?”
I blinked and looked up, almost flinching.
Those eyes.
Did they ever stop glaring? Or was his face just set in a permanent frown? What a shame. They were pretty.
“He’s not my boyfriend,” I blurted before I could think. My instinctive reaction to vehemently deny Jace was practically built into me. “He’s a jerk. He deserved to be beaten up.”
He brought his cup of coffee to his lips and took a sip. I watched him swallow before setting the cup back down. His tongue briefly flicked across his lips.
“Did you know about what he and Quinn did to Sebastian? Were you in on it? You guys were close, weren’t you?” His eyes narrowed.
“God, no.” I shook my head. I really had no idea Quinn and Jace had plotted against his friend. Even in my previous life, I was oblivious. “They betrayed me too. We weren’t as close as everyone thought.”
“Was that why you were avoiding him? Did you know about the bet?”
I raised a brow.
He was talkative today.
I nodded regardless.
“I had a hint of what he and Quinn had planned. That’s why I knocked on your door that day at the dorm.”
“You wanted me to beat him up?” he asked, c*****g a brow.
I shook my head.
“No. I wanted a distraction.” I paused. “But I think beating him up was better.”
“Oh.”
Elijah looked away.
He opened his backpack, pulled out a notebook and textbook, and placed them on the table. Picking up his pen, he started scribbling something down.
It took me a moment to fully process what was happening.
Elijah King was studying.
And he actually looked focused.
It didn’t fit his personality one bit.
Beating people up on Fridays and studying on Sundays.
So complex.
I bit my lip before speaking.
“About the food I delivered to your dorm… I’d like the flask back.”
I didn’t actually want the flask back. It wasn’t even mine to begin with. But if I could get Elijah’s number, that would be great.
“I threw it away,” he deadpanned.
My hopes died.
He paused his writing and glanced at me.
“I don’t eat food from crazy strangers.”
My brows furrowed.
“I’m not crazy.”
“Sure.”
He returned to his notes.
My frown deepened. What was that supposed to mean?
“I’d have you know that I’m at the top of my class.”
“So am I. It’s not a flex.”
He didn’t even look up.
I blinked.
How was that possible? He had to be lying. How could a brute be intelligent?
“Did you just call me a brute?”
My eyes widened.
Shit.
I said that out loud.
I quickly shook my head.
“Of course not. Why would I say that?”
His eyes narrowed.
“You did. I have no reason to lie to someone like you. If anything, you’re the one who’s more likely to be unintelligent, considering the amount of time you spent chasing a lying scumbag and the number of times you followed that same lying scumbag to class instead of attending your own.”
His voice was venomous.
My brows shot up.
Elijah King was observant.
Yes, I had followed Jace to many of his classes and waited outside his faculty until he was done. I cringed at how stupid I’d been. It was like a spell had been cast over me back then.
Since Elijah was his classmate, he must have seen me plenty of times. The thought made my face grow warm. But at the same time, it gave me a splendid idea.
“You’re right. I might be struggling a little in school. Since you’re so great, why don’t you be my study partner?”
He grimaced.
“No.”
“What’s with that reaction? I’m great company, you know. Besides, you seem to be lonely and don’t have a lot of friends. We could get to know each other.”
His lips parted.
Then he raised a brow.
An emotion crossed his face.
Disdain.
“Are you hitting on me?”
It was my turn to grimace.
“Are you crazy? What gave you that impression?”
He was practically a dead guy walking. Technically, we both were but he was more dead than me.
He sighed in relief.
“I’m not interested in having a study buddy. So stop talking.”
I bit my lip.
I couldn’t let this opportunity pass me by. I really needed a way to get close to him as soon as possible.
So, even though I was reluctant, desperation forced me to smile sweetly. I batted my eyelashes before leaning in.
“What if I said I was hitting on you? Would you give me a chance then?”
I watched as all the color drained from his face.
His hazel eyes widened in shock. No. Horror.
Suddenly, he slammed his textbook shut, making me flinch.
Then he hurriedly stuffed everything back into his backpack.
I blinked.
“What? Where are you going?”
He didn’t answer.
He slung his bag over his shoulder, stood up, and glared at me.
“Sitting and talking with you is a mistake I will never make again.”
Then he turned promptly and walked out of the cafè, leaving me shell-shocked.
My jaw dropped.
Was I really that repulsive that a fake confession scared him off? Was I that undesirable?
My lips curled into a sneer.
‘His loss. I should be the one repulsed by him. He’s the one with a death countdown hanging over his head.’
Then I remembered the reason I had wanted to get close to him in the first place.
I jolted out of my seat, grabbed my bag, and ran out of the café after him. But I was already too late. He had disappeared.
“Damn it. I let him escape.”
I groaned in frustration.
This might have been my only chance to get close to him, and I totally blew it. He was never going to speak to me again after this. How was I supposed to protect him now?
With a dejected sigh, I could only return to my dorm with heavy steps.
- Writer
